Air operated vibrator for dentistry



May 20, 1969 T, M|| s ETAL AIR OPERATED VIBRATOR FOR DENTISTRY Filed June 7. 1965 mu-n- 5 mAM i Tm l INVENTOR. TONK MILLS WILLIAM J. LYNN BY j ATTORNEY United States Patent O AIR OPERATED VIBRATOR FOR DENTISTRY Tonk Mills, Brown Bldg., Wichita, Kans. 67202, and

William J. Lynn, Prairie Village, Kans.; said Tonk Mills assigner to Tonk Mills, as trustee Filed June 7, 1965, Ser. No. 461,747 Int. Cl. A61c 3/.08

U.S. Cl. 32-56 6 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE An improved air operated vibrator for dentistry having a housing, a chuck for mounting a condensing tool on the housing and a motor with a relatively small race and a relatively large and heavy ball mounted in the race. Conduit communicates between the inlet of a valve, mounted in operative relation to a handle on the housing, and the motor delivering operating air under pressure to the motor. Another conduit exhausts the air through the motor race between the housing and handle, through the handle to the atmosphere whereupon the ball is rotated around the race creating high frequency vibrations.

This invention relates to vibrators for use particularly in dentistry. More particularly the invention relates to a vibrator for dentistry which is operated by a stream of air under pressure.

More specifically, this invention relates to an improvement over the device disclosed in our Patent No. 3,082,- 529, entitled Air Operated Vibrator for Dentistry, issued Mar. 26, 1963. It has been found that the comparatively large motor section of our prior art vibrator was somewhat bulky and cumbersome in use. Furthermore, means were not provided for all the exhaust gas or air to escape backwards through the handle; this situation caused inconvenience and annoyance to both the operator and the patient. It has also been found that it is an inconvenience to the operator not having a conveniently available cutolf valve to the motor. Others have found that our prior tool in general was rather heavy and bulky in use.

In accordance with the present invention, our new combination tool has a one-piece housing. There is therewith a chuck to mount a condensing tool therein. The new motor of the tool has a relatively small race, and a relatively large and heavy ball mounted in the race, and they are mounted in the housing. A handle is mounted on the housing, and a valve in operative relation to the handle is employed. A conduit communicates between the inlet of the valve and the motor for delivering operating air under pressure to the motor. Another conduit communicates between the motor and the atmosphere to deliver exhaust air from the motor.

And further in accordance with the invention, we have produced a new combination tool which has an elongated streamline barrel-like hollow member forming a handle. It has a chuck to mount a condensing tool in one end thereof. The motor has a relatively small race and a relatively large and heavy ball and is mounted in the race. The motor is mounted in the hollow member in an intermediate portion. A valve is mounted in operative relation to the hollow member. A conduit passes longitudinally through the hollow of the member, and communicates between the motor and the inlet of the valve for delivering operating air under pressure to the motor. A conduit is provided within the hollow of the barrel-like member, and it communicates between the motor and one end portion of the motor to deliver exhaust air from the motor through the handle portion to the atmosphere.

The improved air operated vibrator for dentistry of our invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art devices. The preferred small compact one-piece housing containing a relatively small nylon motor race having a relatively large and heavy ball therein provides adequate vibratory action to the tool with less weight and size. Preferably provision is made in our new invention for a light weight streamline aluminum hollow handle which conducts the exhaust air out of the rear portion of the handle, thus overcoming the disadvantages of exhaust air being blown on the operator or the patient. A simple and convenient on-oif valve is preferably provided for the convenience of the operator. By these improvements we have provided an eicient light weight air operated vibrator which overcomes certain disadvantages in the prior art devices.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved air operated vibrator for dentistry.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved air operated vibrator for dentistry having a onepiece housing.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved air operated vibrator for dentistry wherein all exhaust air escapes to rearward through the handle.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved air operated vibrator for dentistry which has a conveniently mounted air Valve.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide an improved air operated vibrator for dentistry which is relatively small and light in weight.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved air operated vibrator for dentistry which has a relatively small motor race and a relatively large and heavy ball mounted therein.

Various other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from reading this disclosure.

Drawings accompanying and are a part of this disclosure. These drawings depict preferred specic embodiments of the improved air operated vibrator for dentistry of the invention, and it is to be understood that these drawings are not to unduly limit the scope of the invention. In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal partial cross sectional view of a preferred specific embodiment of the air operated vibrator of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 2 2 of FIG. l.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 3 3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of FIG. l.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 6 6 of FIG. l.

In the following is a discussion and description of the invention made with reference to the drawings whereon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/ or structure. The discussion and description is of prefer-red specific embodiments of the new improved air operated vibrator for dentistry of the invention, and it is to be understood that the discussion and description is not to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the improved air operated vibrator for dentistry of the invention includes an inner housing 8 which is generally cylindrical in shape and constructed of one piece. The housing 8 can be made of any suitable hard material such as steel, aluminum, plastic or the like, but preferably of steel. The housing 8 has a threaded chuck portion 10 which has an axial hole 12 formed therein. A transverse pin 14 is inserted through the housing 8 in or at the bottom of the axial hole. Around the housing 8 is a circumferential groove 16 have an O-ring 18 placed therein. This O-ring 18 can be made of any suitable material but preferably of a rubber-like substance which has been found to effectively seal the housing 8. The housing 8 has elongated motor portion 20 which is substantially threaded and has opposing fiat surfaces 22 on its sides.

A circular opening connects the opposing fiat surfaces and forms a motor chamber 24t A vibrator motor assembly 26 is mounted in the motor chamber 24. This motor 26 comprises a relatively small cylindrical nylon motor race 28 and a relatively heavy and large ball 38 placed in the motor race 28. Air escape holes 32 are provided in the center of each end of the motor race 28.

A venturi air passage 34 tangential to the motor race 28 passes longitudinally through the housing 8, connecting with an aperture 36 at the end of the housing into which an air tube 38 is mounted. The air tube can be mounted by an appropriate or suitable means such as screw means, welding means or soldering means, but preferably by silver solder. A circular recess at 40 is formed in the threaded portion of the motor housing portion 20, and a nylon rod 42 is inserted therein. The nylon rod 42 is of such a length that it projects into the threads of the motor housing 20 creating a thread locking means when said motor portion 20 is threadedly mounted.

A threaded chuck assembly shown generally at `44 has a tapered female portion 46 which is mounted on the chuck portion of the housing 10. A split fibrous collar 48 inserted into the female portion 46 holds an elongated condensing tool 50 firmly in place. The condensing tool 50 has a transverse groove in its inner end which engages the transversely mounted pin 14 keeping the tool firmly locked in desired operating position at all times.

A hollow streamline tapered handle shown generally by 52 has internal threads at one end and is mounted thereby on the motor portion of the housing 20, seal means 18 effectively sealing between the handle 52 and the housing 20. An aligning pin 54 is positioned near the other end of the handle 52 and projects into its interior. A hexagonal gasket seat 56 which has an air tube hole 58, a guide pin hole 60, an aligning pin slot 62 and a gasket recess on one face, is mounted in the end of the hollow handle 52 so that the aligning pin slot 62 passes over the aligning pin 54 and the back side of the gasket seat 56 rests against a shoulder 64 in the interior of the hollow handle. A gasket 66 which has an aligning pin hole and a guide pin hole therein is mounted in the gasket seat 56 recess. This gasket can be made of any suitable material but preferably of a rubber-like substance. The air tube 38 passes through the air tube holes in the gasket and the gasket seat 58.

A valve assembly generally referred to as member 68 has a generally cylindrical part 70 which contains an air duct 72 along its axis. In one end portion of the cylindrical part 70 there is an off-set air tube hole 74 connecting with the duct 72. In the same end portion is a guide pin hole 7i6 with a guide pin 78 mounted therein. This end portion of the valve assembly 68 is mounted in the hollow handle 52 so that it engages the gasket 66 in the gasket seat 56 with the air tube 38 inserted in the air tube hole 74 and guide pin 78 projecting into guide pin hole 54. A hexagonal shoulder 80 is formed on the cylindrical part 70, and a female securing nut 82 is mounted on the cylindrical part 70 over the hexagonal shoulder 80 in such -manner that exhaust air escaping through the handle passes between the female nut 82 and the hexagonal shoulder 80. The valve assembly 68 is preferably threadedly mounted on the hollow handle 52. A valve actuating pin 84 passes through slots at points 86 formed on opposite sides of the cylindrical part 70 and is rigidly mounted on diametrically opposite sides .4 of a sleeve 88 slidably mounted on the cylindrical part 70. Circumferential grooves 90 are formed around the cylindrical part 70 on each side of slots 86. O-rings 92 are placed in slots 90 and effectively seal air from escaping between the cylindrical part 70 and the external sleeve 88.

A valve seat 94 is formed near the end of the air duct 72 of the cylindrical part 70. A valve and valve stem assembly 96 is mounted in the air duct 72 so that the valve seat engages the valve 96 and the valve stem 96 projects to such a length that in operation the slidably mounted valve actuating pin 86 can open and close the valve 96 by sliding the external sleeve 88 upon the cylindrical part 70. A hose connection 98 is threadedly mounted in the end of the air duct 72 of the cylindrical part 70 so that a supply of air under pressure can be supplied to the vibrator for operation of same.

In operation air or other gas under pressure is introduced into the vibrator through the air hose connection 98, valve 96, duct 72, air tube 38, venturi air passage 34 into the motor 24, and it causes the ball 30 mounted therein to rotate around the nylon motor race 22, thereby transmitting high frequency vibrations through the housing 8 to the dental tool 50. Exhaust air from the motor is exhausted through air escape holes 32, through the hollow handle 52 between the hexagonal gasket seat 64 and the hollow handle 52 and between the hexagonal shoulder and the female nut 82, and it is exhausted to the atmosphere around point 100.

The air operated vibrator of the invention can be constructed of any suitable hard material such as iron, steel, aluminum, plastics 0r the like, however the preferred construction provides that the housing 8 be of steel, the air tube 38 of steel, the ball 30 of steel, the race 28 of nylon or other suitable plastic material, and the remaining parts thereof of aluminum except where otherwise preferably specified.

While the invention has been described in connection with preferred specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that this description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention which is defined by the claims.

We claim:

1. An air operated vibrator for dentistry comprising, in combination, a generally cylindrical one-piece housing having a threaded chuck portion, an axial hole within said chuck portion, a transverse pin at the bottom of said hole, a circumferential groove, and a seal means in said groove, an elongated motor portion of said housing having threads substantially the length thereof and opposing fiat surfaces on the sides thereof, a circular opening connecting said opposing flat surfaces and forming a motor chamber, a vibrator motor assembly mounted within said chamber, said assembly comprising a cylindrical nylon motor race and one relatively heavy and large ball within said race, an air escape hole in the center of each end of said race, a venturi air passage tangential to said motor race passing longitudinally through said housing, an aperture at the end of said housing, an air tube mounted in said aperture connecting with said venturi passage, soldering means securing said air tube to said housing, a recess in the threaded portion of said housing, a nylon rod, said nylon rod inserted into said recess, a threaded chuck assembly having a tapered female portion mounted upon said chuck portion of said housing, a split fibrous collar, said collar inserted in said female portion, an elongated condensing tool having a transverse groove in its inner end removably mounted in said chuck in longitudinal reciprocating relation to said vibrator motor assembly in operation and with said groove engaging said pin to position said tool, said tool being bent intermediate its end for easy contact with a filling of a tooth, a hollow tapered handle having internal threads at one end and external threads at the other end, an internal aligning pin mounted near the said externally threaded portion thereof and an internal gasket seat shoulder, said handle mounted by said internal threads on the threaded portion of the said motor portion of said housing with the said seal means of said housing passing inside said handle and sealing between said handle and said housing, a hexagonal gasket seat having an air tube hole, a guide pin hole, an aligning pin slot and a gasket recess on one side thereof, said gasket seat mounted in the externally threaded end of said handle and resting against the said gasket seat shoulder of said handle with said aligning pin slot passing over said aligning pin of said handle, said air tube passing through said air tube hole, a gasket having an air tube hole and a guide pin hole, said gasket placed in said gasket recess of said gasket seat, a valve assembly having a generally cylindrical part having an intercommunicating air duct means therein, in one end portion an olf-set air tube hole interconnecting with said duct means, a guide pin, a guide pin hole, said guide pin mounted in said guide pin hole, said one end portion mounted in said gasket recess of said gasket seat with said air tube inserted into said air tube hole, and said guide pin projecting into said guide pin hole of said gasket seat, a hexagonal shoulder adjoining said one end portion, a securing nut slidably mounted on said cylindrical part and extending over said hexagonal shoulder, said nut removably and threadedly mounted on said handle, a valve actuating pin, slots on opposing side of said cylindrical part of said valve assembly, an external sleeve slidably mounted on said cylindrical part, said valve actuating pin passing through said slots and secured at each end to said external sleeve, circumferential grooves around said cylindrical part on each side of said slots, rubber-like seal means in said grooves sealing between said sleeve and cylindrical part, said sleeve slidably mounted on said cylindrical part and seal means, a valve seat in said air duct of said cylindrical part, a valve and valve stem combination mounted in said air duct at the other end portion of said cylindrical part, said valve stem nearly touching said valve actuating pin when said valve is engaged with said valve seat, internal threads in the other end of said air duct in said cylindrical part, a threaded air hose connection having gasket means therewith threadedly mounted in said air duct, said air operated vibrator being constructed and adapted to supply air under pressure to said motor assembly through said air duct, valve, air tube and venturi passage and to exhaust same through said escape holes in said nylon motor race, passing along said opposing at surface 4of said motor portion of said housing between same and said handle, through said hollow handle, around said hexagonal gasket seat and said hexagonal shoulder of said cylindrical part and to the atmosphere whereupon said ball is rotated around said nylon race to thereby create high frequency vibrations which in turn are transmitted through said housing and said chuck to said tool to thereby compact material used in lling a tooth.

2. An air operated vibrator for dentistry comprising, in combination, a generally cylindrical one-piece housing having a chuck portion, an axial hole within said chuck portion, a transverse tool pin in said hole and a seal means, a motor portion of said housing having threads, opposing at surfaces, a circular opening connecting said opposing at surfaces and forming a motor chamber, a vibrator motor assembly mounted within said chamber, said assembly comprising a cylindrical relatively small nylon motor race and one relatively large ball within said race and air escape holes, a tangential air passage through said housing, an aperture, an air tube mounted in said aperture connecting with said air passage, a threaded chuck assembly having a threaded female portion with a split brous collar therein mounted upon said chuck portion of said housing, a condensing tool having a transverse groove in its inner end, removably mounted in said chuck with said groove engaging said tool pin to position said tool, hollow tapered handle having threads, an internal aligning pin, and a gasket seat shoulder,

said handle mounted on said motor portion of said housing with said seal means sealing between said housing and said handle, a hexagonal gasket seat mounted in the end of said handle against the saidgasket seat shoulder, engaging said aligning pin, said air tube passing through said gasket seat, a gasket in said gasket seat, a valve assembly having a generally cylindrical part having an intercommunicating air duct means therein, an air tube hole interconnecting with said duct means, a guide pin therein, said valve assembly mounted against said gasket with said air tube projecting into said air tube hole and said guide pin projecting through said gasket seat, a hexagonal shoulder, a securing nut slidably mounted over said hexagonal shoulder and said nut mounted on said handle, a valve actuating pin, and an external sleeve slidably mounted on said cylindrical part, said valve actuating pin diametrically secured to said external sleeve, rubber-like seal means sealing between said sleeve and cylindrical part, said sleeve slidably mounted on said cylindrical part and seal means, a valve seat in said air duct, a valve and valve stern combination mounted in said air duct to engage said valve actuating pin, an air hose connection having gasket means therewith threadedly mounted in said air duct, said air operated vibrator being constructed and adapted to supply air under pressure to said motor assembly through said air duct, valve, air tube and venturi passage and to exhaust same through said escape holes in said nylon motor race, passing along said opposing at surface of said motor portion of said housing between same and said handle, through said hollow handle, around said hexagonal gasket seat and said hexagonal shoulder of said cylindrical part and to the atmosphere, whereupon said ball is rotated around said nylon race to thereby create high frequency vibrations which in turn are transmitted through said housing and said chuck to said tool to thereby compact material used in lling the tooth.

3. An air operated vibrator for dentistry comprising in combination, a generally cylindrical one-piece housing having a threaded chuck portion, a seal means and a motor portion, said motor portion having threads, opposing liat surfaces, a motor chamber, a vibrator motor assembly mounted within said chamber, said assembly cornprising a relatively small nylon motor race and one relatively large and heavy ball within said race and air escape holes, a tangential air passage passing through said housing, an air tube mounted on said housing connecting with said air passage, a threaded chuck assembly, a condensing tool, said tool removably mounted in said chuck upon said chuck portion, a hollow tapered streamline handle having threads, said handle mounted on said motor portion of said housing with said seal means sealing between said housing and said handle, a gasket seat and gasket mounted in the end of said handle having duct means and aligning means therein, a valve assembly having a generally cylindrical part having an intercommunicating air duct means therein interconnecting with said air tube, said valve assembly mounted against said gasket, with a securing nut slidably mounting said valve assembly on said handle, an external sleeve having valve actuating means, slidably mounted on said cylindrical part, seal means sealing between said sleeve and cylindrical part, a valve seat in said air duct, a valve and valve stem combination mounted in said air duct to engage said valve actuating means, air intake means mounted in said air duct, said air operated vibrator being constructed and adapted to supply air under pressure to said motor assembly through said air duct, means to exhaust same through said escape holes in said nylon motor race passing along said opposing flat surface of said motor portion of said housing between same and said handle, through said hollow handle, and to the atmosphere, whereupon said ball is rotated around said nylon race to thereby create high frequency vibration.

4. An air operated vibrator for dentistry comprising,

in combination, a one-piece housing, a condensing tool, a chuck assembly threadedly mounting said condensing tool on said housing, a motor having a relatively small race and a relatively large and heavy ball mounted in said race, said motor mounted in said housing, a streamlined hollow handle mounted on said housing and enclosing same, a valve assembly mounted on said handle, duct means communicating between the inlet of said valve and said motor for delivering operating air under pressure to said motor, and air exhaust means to exhaust same through said motor race, between said housing and said handle, through said handle, and to the atmosphere, whereupon said ball is rotated around said race to thereby create high frequency vibration.

5. An air operated vibrator for dentistry, comprising, in combination, a one-piece housing, chuck means having means to mount a condensing tool on said housing, motor means having a relatively small race and a relatively large and heavy ball mounted in said race, said motor means mounted in said housing, handle means mounted on said housing, valve means mounted in operative relation to said handle means, conduit means communicating between the inlet of said valve means and said motor for delivering operating air under pressure to said lmotor, and conduit means to exhaust air through said motor race ybetween said housing and said handle, through said handle, and to the atmosphere whereupon said ball is rotated around said race to thereby create high frequency vibrations.

6. An air operated vibrator for dentistry, comprising, in combination, an elongated streamline barrel-like hollow member forming in one end portion handle means, chuck means having means to mount a condensing tool in the other end portion, motor means having a relatively small race and a relatively large and heavy ball mounted in said race, said motor means mounted in said member in an intermediate portion thereof, valve means mounted in operative relation to said member, conduit means passing longitudinally through the hollow of said member communicating between said motor and the inlet of said valve means for delivering operating air under pressure to said motor, and conduit means within the hollow of said member communicating between said motor and the inlet of said one end portion of said lmember to exhaust air through said motor race between said housing and said handle, through said handle, and to the atmosphere whereupon said ball is rotated around said race to thereby create high frequency vibrations.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,082,529 3/1963 Mins et a1 32-56 LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES R. WENTZEL, Assistant Examiner. 

